“Be kind and good to people. Always do what’s respectful. It brings you rewards,” says Dr. Geraldine ‘Gerry’ Haller, a former beloved and celebrated CPS teacher and principal turned author. These are the words that guided her throughout her career and now, into retirement.
Gerry’s career with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) spanned 41 years. She has received awards in the teaching, curriculum, and administrative fields, including being recognized with a Golden Apple award for teaching, by The Carnegie Foundation for her teaching work in the inner city of Chicago, and receiving the Phi Delta Kappa Award for Outstanding Principal of the Year.
Upon retirement, Gerry was invited by The Board of Education to consult with CPS teachers and principals. CPS recognized her talent in the classroom and asked her to impart her wisdom about teaching students with her unique way of teaching curriculum which she reports, “has proven successful as she took her school from #25 to #1 in five years.” As a proud wife, mother, and grandmother, Gerry also focused her energy on spending time with her family. She could be found cheering on grandchildren at hockey games or reading to them at bedtime on a Saturday night.